RE: JENKENS & GILCHRIST

Somone who knows someone who’s an insider at Jenkens & Gilchrist passed the following email along to FrontBurner. As the someone pointed out to us, the email paints a different picture than the article in today’s DMN:

Hey everyone…you may have read the article in the Dallas Morning News this morning about my firm about to “dissolve.” Several of you have already e-mailed and asked what’s going on. I wanted to take a few moments to tell you what’s up…cause the story was a mischaracterization of what is going on.

As of April 1st, if all goes to plan, myself along with everyone in Jenkens, are going to join Hunton & Williams to create a major national firm. When everything is finished, our combined firm will have over 1000 lawyers in 20 offices around the globe, including close to 250 lawyers in Dallas, making us the largest firm in Dallas. We are all very excited about this opportunity. Its going to be a difficult transition period, but in the end, we think we are creating something very special and a firm that is going to become a top national player for many years to come. Already the combination is cutting costs, increasing profits per partner, and causing all associates to receive a significant raise.

As part of that merger, there were some “duplications.” I.e. Hunton didn’t need a LA or Chicago office. Also some practice groups created conflicts of interests (i.e. our immigration group). And that is what the focus of the story was unfairly about. In fact, a few partners left about a month ago to another major firm . They asked several associates to go with them. All of those associates turned those partners down. We are that committed to this firm and the plan our management has put in place for us and believe that strongly in what is going on. I am truly excited by what is about to happen.